PERUGIA & ASSISI
Perugia lies on a hill 500 m. above sea level, with the old town spreading all around it and partly surrounded by Etruscan and Medieval Walls. Unfortunately, only a few ancient city remains have survived; the remaining urban centre is mainly medieval in style. The old town is, in fact, a typical Medieval village, one of the most beautiful in Italy.
A sightseeing tour includes Piazza Matteotti, also known as Sopramuro (“above the walls”), with Palazzo dell'Università Vecchia and Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo. Beside it, we will admire one of the most beautiful squares of Italy: Piazza IV Novembre, which can be considered the monumental and social core of the city, with at its centre Fontana Maggiore, a sculptural masterpiece by Giovanni and Nicola Pisano. This architectonical complex includes Palazzo dei Priori, built between the 13th and 14th Centuries, a symbol of the civil power of the time and now the home of the National Gallery of Umbria, which hosts the most important collection of Umbrian paintings, including several pieces by Perugino.
Assisi is the birthplace of Francis, the nobleman who renounced all his possessions to devote his life to helping the needy and became the most acclaimed Saint of the Catholic Church.
The splendid Basilica, one of the emblems of Christianity, located on Mount Subasio and overlooking the entire valley, is dedicated to him. Apart from being a strong appeal to millions of religious believers, the Basilica is a monument of great artistic value. The construction of the Basilica began two years after his death, in 1228, and between the end of the 13th and the beginning of the 14th century, the basilica's walls were frescoed by the best artists of that time: Giotto, Cimabue, Simone Martini and Pietro Lorenzetti. St. Francis' Basilica consists of two churches laid upon each other and a crypt containing the tomb of the Saint. The Lower Basilica presents a simple facade with a double front portal embellished with a rose window and a mosaic. The interior is decorated with frescoes by some of the most important painters from 1200 to 1300, from Cimabue to Giotto, from the Lorenzettis to Simone Martini.
In the Upper Basilica, you will admire the frescoes of the life of St. Francis, painted by Giotto, the stories of the Old and New Testament covering the entire nave, and other beautiful frescoes by Cimabue and Torriti.
Another figure who profoundly influenced these places is Saint Clare, to whom the homonymous Basilica -with a facade made of white and pink stone and divided into three sections by horizontal cornices - is dedicated. The interior frescoes and the remains of the Saint are visible through a window in the crypt.
Try to enjoy the mystical atmosphere of Assisi:
"Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth,
Who feeds us and rules us,
And produces various fruits with coloured flowers and herbs."
(St. Francis, Prayer of the Canticle of the Creatures)
UMBRIA
Umbria is the greenest region of Italy, and its citizens are famous for their hospitality. This morning, our first stop will be Spoleto, a medieval hill town in the Umbria region, famous for its summer music festival, “Festival dei Due Mondi”. Thick walls and a magnificent gorge surround the city, and fine medieval and Roman monuments sit along the streets. The Duomo is one of Spoleto's most pleasing sights: dating back to the 12th century, the cathedral is set against a backdrop of hills and valleys. The Rocca is high above the town, a Papal fortress used as a prison until the 1980s. A massive bridge, Ponte delle Torri, built in the 14th century, functioned as a bridge and aqueduct; we can walk on it for breathtaking views of the valley and gorge below.
In Spoleto, you can try a typical Spoletan food, “torta al testo” (bread prepared with water, flour, salt, pepper, and olive oil and cooked on a particular marble stone in a wood-burning oven); it is sometimes stuffed with ham, sausage, or simply with herbs prepared in olive oil.
Then, you’ll head for Deruta, famous for its splendid, brightly coloured maiolica. The production of ceramics in Deruta goes back to the 13th century. In those times, small “bottegas” produced objects of everyday use: jugs, bowls, and basins. Maiolica reached its apex in the 16th century, with artists making various motifs, such as mythological figures, battles and religious scenes.
ORVIETO & CIVITA DI BAGNOREGIO
Orvieto in Umbria is perhaps the most beautiful hill town in Italy, perched up on a volcanic rock, its history dating back to the Etruscans.
Although just an hour from Rome, the architecture is different, with many of the buildings constructed out of “tufo”, a volcanic rock. Orvieto’s main attraction is its 14th-century Cathedral – a masterpiece of Gothic architecture with a glistening façade of stained glass, mosaics and sculptures. Another attraction is St. Patrick’s Well, a 62-meter-deep (203 feet) feat of engineering characterized by two spiral staircases that wind around the well (yet never meet), with 248 steps down to the water. A pleasant guided tour along a straightforward route makes it possible to know Orvieto’s underground world, created by its ancient inhabitants over about 2,500 years of uninterrupted digging. A tour at the discovery of a millenary, surprising and unexpected “Underground City”, you will surely enjoy it!
At lunch, don’t miss “salumi di cinghiale o cervo” (boar or deer sausage) and pecorino cheese and taste the region's prized white truffle oil together with the delicious white wine of the area, Orvieto Classico!
Civita di Bagnoregio, the spectacular “borgo” slowly sliding towards the valley, is also known as the “Dying City”. The town is famous for its unique position atop a plateau of friable volcanic tuff overlooking the Tiber valley. It is in constant danger of destruction as the edges of the plateau collapse due to erosion, leaving the buildings to crumble as their underlying support falls away.
GENGA & FABRIANO
In Genga, inside the Red Gorge Regional Park, inside a large cave, lies a hidden jewel worth the visit: the small Valadier Temple.
The Valadier Temple is an octagonal sanctuary in neoclassical style built in 1828 by Pope Leo XII and designed by the famous architect Giuseppe Valadier.
Nestled between the rocky walls of the mountain, the temple has an octagonal base and is entirely built with blocks of white travertine extracted from a quarry above the cave in which it stands, in contrast to the dome covered with lead. On the facades, there are three orders of windows and two entrances to the temple, finally, the statue of the Virgin with Child in white Carrara marble by Antonio Canova, placed on the altar inside, is even more precious because it is inserted in such an impervious context.
Do you know how paper was made in the Middle Ages? Fabriano was the most important centre for the production of handmade paper until paper was industrialised. Here, we will assist in a live demonstration of hand-made paper, performed by the Museum's Master paper makers, viewing the antique watermarks from the 13th century to modern day.
You won’t leave Fabriano before tasting its excellent salame, a Slow Food Italian Presidium, with a glass of Torgiano red wine!
SUMMARY
- 5 Full Days + 5 Nights
- Type of Tour: circular
- Start and End in: Rome
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- 5 nights with European Breakfast
- 2 3-course dinners (wine not included)
- Private transportation in a comfortable air-conditioned van
- Visit of a wine cellar in Montalcino with tasting
- Admission to Galleria degli Uffizi OR Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence
- Admission to Coliseum and Imperial Forums in Rome
- All taxes and tips
FLORENCE
Welcome to Florence, the land of Giotto and Dante!
Despite its international fame and greatness, Florence is also a small city whose history has been interwoven with that of its passionate citizens for more than one thousand years
In Piazza Duomo, you will be astonished by the Duomo with the incredible Brunelleschi’s dome, a masterpiece of art and architecture whose building techniques are still covered by a veil of mystery. Beside it, Giotto’s Belltower and the Baptistery, one of the oldest buildings in the city, with its famous bronze doors made by no and Ghiberti in the 14th and 15th centuries. In Piazza della Signoria, you will walk in the middle of bronze and marble masterpieces by Giambologna and Cellini inside the marvellous Loggia dei Lanzi, and will admire the imposing Palazzo Vecchio, one of the symbols of Florence and still the seat of government of the city. You may also spare some time to relax, visiting a typical market for shopping, strolling through the city's pedestrian streets, and crossing the oldest bridge in Florence, “Ponte Vecchio” (Old Bridge), rich in jewellery shops.
Your itinerary may include Galleria dell’Accademia, hosting Michelangelo's David, the most famous sculpture in the world. The David was uncovered and shown to the Florentines on September 8, 1504, and with its height of 4 meters, the impeccable physical features and the political significance that the iconography of David had taken over the previous century left the Florentines of the time speechless and has done the same ever since with visitors from all over the world.
Florence is also the main Italian centre for the production of high-quality leather goods. Florentine artisans are so famous that many fashion brands have opened factories in the city or close to it due to their high skill and the continuous inspiration designers take from the town’s masterpieces. The area around Piazza Santa Croce, in particular, hosts numerous leather shops and workshops.
Thanks to the tradition of Tuscan tanneries, there is no better place to find shoes for all tastes than Florence: from the creations, designed and produced by hand by skilled craftsmen, to the extensive collections available in stores, renewed every season. Above all, Ferragamo (also worth seeing the museum), Gucci and Prada for refinement and elegance. If you prefer a simpler style, many shops specialise in handmade shoes and sandals across the river Arno.
At lunch, you may enjoy “Panino con Lampredotto” in a typical Florentine market. At dinner, taste the simple yet unforgettable recipes of the Tuscan tradition, such as "Crostini", "Panzanella", and "Peposo". And remember, Florence is the home of "Fiorentina" steak! In case you are a vegetarian, don’t worry: Tuscan cuisine offers tasty alternatives like “Pappa al Pomodoro” or “Ribollita” (read our BLOG to know more about Tuscan Cuisine).
PISA & LUCCA
Pisa is famous worldwide for its “Torre Pendente” (Leaning Tower), but its wonderful square, Piazza dei Miracoli, set over an ample greenfield, hosts three other whiter-than-white masterpieces of exquisite Medieval art: the Cathedral, the Baptristy and the “Camposanto” (Graveyard). They are so unique that their creation originated a new style, "Pisan Romanesque".
This area was chosen to construct the Duomo of Santa Maria Assunta strictly for its centrality; founded in 1064, it was intended to celebrate the grandeur of Pisa during the Marine Republic’s epoch of power. "The temple of marble white as the snow"; that’s how the structure is described on the gravestone of its architect, Buscheto di Giovanni Giudice. Consisting of five naves with its transept divided into three naves, it is surmounted by a splendid dome encircled by a loggia. The Duomo’s façade and exterior lateral sections feature elaborate decoration in marble (which can also be seen on its interior), mosaics, and bronze.
In front of the Cathedral stands the Baptistry, also in a particular version of the Romanesque style. Initiated in 1152 by Diotisalvi, the Baptistry was finally completed in the 14th century; Gothic elements were added then. Of cylindrical form and circled by arcades of columns, this structure in white marble even boasts impressive acoustics.
The Camposanto closes the northern end of the complex's piazza. This monumental cemetery, begun in 1278, is bordered by a marble fence and houses a cloister at its centre. Unfortunately, most frescoes that once coloured its walls were destroyed in a fire in 1944 during the battle for Pisa.
Ultimately, the true symbol of Pisa is the Campanile, the Leaning Tower, which completes the image of this city. Because of land sinkage beneath it, the Tower stands at a significant incline. Its construction started in 1173, but the Tower was not completed until the second half of the 1300s. In cylindrical form, the blind arcades of its lower part mutate into six floors of loggias, repeating motifs from the Duomo. Inside, a spiral staircase of 294 steps leads to the heights of one of the most famous towers in the world, where the lovely belfry and a spectacular view of the surrounding landscape await.
SIENA & SAN GIMIGNANO
In Siena, the city of the Palio, you will walk on the famous Piazza del Campo, the concave square where horses run twice a year in a dangerous race that symbolizes the city’s freedom. On the days of the Palio, the whole town goes crazy; read about it in our BLOG. Indeed, you will not forget the colour of frontages and roofs, the renowned colour “Sienna”, a pigment first produced during the Renaissance, that makes the city lovely and warm. And don’t forget to taste the Senese sweets: “cantucci” (biscuits with toasted almonds), “ricciarelli” (soft biscuits with icing sugar), “panforte”(cake with fruit nuts and spices) and “cavallucci” (biscuits with honey, walnut, candied fruits and spices. Travellers who love dessert will be delighted!
In the afternoon, you will stroll with your head upwards along the streets of one of the most beautiful cities in Tuscany, San Gimignano, also known as the "Medieval Manhattan", thanks to its old and impressive 14 towers that dominate the town skyline. Originally the towers were 72, built by patrician families probably to demonstrate their wealth and power. Seven of San Gimignano's towers are around Piazza del Duomo; the tallest one is Torre Grossa, 54 meters high, dating back to 1298.
VAL D'ORCIA
Val d’Orcia is one of the most fascinating places in Italy, included by UNESCO in the list of World Heritage Sites. Its landscape is a part of the agricultural hinterland of Siena, redrawn and developed when it was integrated into the city-state's territory in the 14th and 15th centuries to reflect an idealized model of good governance and create an aesthetically pleasing picture. The landscape’s distinctive aesthetics, flat chalk plains with almost conical hills and fortified settlements on top, inspired many artists. Their images have come to exemplify the beauty of well-managed Renaissance agricultural landscapes.
Your first stop will be in Pienza, “Pio’s town”: here, Pope Pius II decided to build the perfect palazzo for his papal court according to the project of an “Ideal City" drawn up by artists such as Piero della Francesca. From the loggia of the Palace, you will enjoy a breath-taking panorama of the valley. Pienza is also the area of the typical “Pecorino di fossa” cheese, an absolute delight to the palate!
In Montepulciano, our friend Francesca will lead you to discover this beautiful town full of stories, legends and thousand flavours, introducing you to the excellent products of this unique land: olive oil, pecorino cheese and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.
Then, you will get to Montalcino, one of the prettiest hill towns in Tuscany. Around the village, rows of olive trees, precious grapevines and yellow fields create an enchanting landscape. Here you may visit a Brunello winery to taste the most famous SupertuscanSupertuscan wine, probably the best Italian red!
Then, you will stop in Bagno Vignoni, a tiny and charming village where the main square is a pool 49 meters long and 29 wide. Several hot springs, whose therapeutic qualities have been renowned since antiquity, bubble up from its bottom! All this creates a pleasant sensation; leaving will be hard!
Later on, you may experience the rhythms and beauty of authentic Tuscan food in an authentic Cooking Experience set in a real farmhouse in the heart of Italy, surrounded by rolling hills, vineyards and olive trees.
SAN GALGANO
Here we are in Chiusdino, to see the famous Abbey of San Galgano. What a stunning place! Dating back to 1218, the Abbey was considerably wealthy until the 14th century, so much as to be disputed between the Papacy and the Republic of Siena. Unfortunately, a remarkable decline followed so much splendour: local people used it as a warehouse of building materials, even selling the roof of lead to make ammunition and transforming it into what we see today. For those who see it for the first time, it is awe-inspiring due to its isolation and the absence of a roof. Finding yourself inside a church and having the sky as a cover is not usual, and when the evening comes, the stars offer a fantastic show. But why did the Cistercians Monks decide to build such an imposing complex in that secluded valley? The answer is simple. Very close to it, a church, the hermitage of Montesiepi, whose first nucleus is due to the same saint (and his direct followers), already existed. In its Chapel, also called "Rotonda" because of the circular shape of the central structure, an old iron sword is encased in stone, a clear reference to the legend of Excalibur, the mythic sword of King Arthur!
AREZZO
In the Middle Ages, Arezzo was a free municipality in which the Ghibelline part prevailed, and it lived in historical opposition with the not-too-distant Florence. The frescoes by Piero della Francesca in the Duomo alone are worth visiting the city. But once you have arrived, how not to be amazed in the heart of the medieval village, which elegantly recounts the great seasons of Aretine art and architecture. Next to the medieval towers stands the imposing Loggia del Vasari (for some general rehearsal and model of the one then realized by the Aretine artist for the Uffizi), then the Palazzo della Fraternita dei Laici, a synthesis of Gothic and Renaissance architecture, then the apse of the Pieve di Santa Maria. If you enter the Basilica of San Domenico, remember a painted cross of Cimabue.
Arezzo became internationally famous as the backdrop to a widely acclaimed movie when some of the most beautiful corners of the city’s monumental centre formed the setting for scenes in Roberto Benigni’s film “Life is Beautiful”, three-time Oscar winner in 1999. You will also visit the Basilica of Saint Francis, where Piero della Francesca painted one of the most remarkable Renaissance frescoes, "The Legend of the true Cross".
Piazza Grande becomes the scene of the Giostra del Saracino, a knightly tournament of medieval origins, during the penultimate Saturday in June or the first Sunday in September. On every month's first weekend, the Antique Fair takes place, a vast market of often surprising objects. Here you will need to arm with patience and practice the fine discipline of the negotiation: bargaining the price is an art for the "bancherellai" of Arezzo, and it is necessary to adapt.
North of the city, we find the marvellous National Park of the Casentino Forests. Here you will ride up towards the mountain on an ancient forest road, where you will meet the shepherd and his sheep: you will discover how sheep cheese is made and have a tasty treat. Continuing our journey through the forest, you will arrive at the monastery of Camaldoli: for thousands of years, the monks have lived here in symbiosis with nature, finding peace and inspiration: it will also be an opportunity for you to stop for lunch in the peaceful surroundings. You will see the cells where the monks still retire to their prayers. A long and exciting descent will take you back to the valley, with wonderful views of the Casentino forests.
